Selecting a "random" element from an array with each element having it's own weighting
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Matlab Beginner
on 26 Jan 2021
Commented: Matlab Beginner
on 7 Feb 2021
Hi,
I am trying to write code that will permit me to select a "random" element from an array with each element having it's own weighting.
For example, assume array A = [1;2;3;4], where there is a 10% chance for 1, 20% chance for 2, 30% chance for 3 and 40% chance for 4 to be chosen.
I suppose I could just have number 2 added twice, number 3 three times and 4 four times, but trying to find something more robust since the data I'm working with is very large.
How would I go about writing this code?
Thanks
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Accepted Answer
Bruno Luong
on 26 Jan 2021
A=[1,2,3,4];
p=[10 20 30 40];
c=cumsum(p);
[~,r]=histc(rand(1,1e6),[0 c/c(end)]); % generate 1e6 numbers
r=A(r);
% Check
histogram(r)
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More Answers (1)
Jeff Miller
on 26 Jan 2021
Edited: Jeff Miller
on 26 Jan 2021
% Wts is your vector of weights.
Wts = Wts / sum(Wts); % make sure they sum to 1
cumPrs = cumsum(Wts); % cumPr is the cumulative probability of selecting each vector position or smaller
r = rand; % a random number between 0 and 1
randVecPos = find(cumPrs>r,1); % select this random vector position from your array
4 Comments
Bruno Luong
on 26 Jan 2021
Edited: Bruno Luong
on 26 Jan 2021
This code is buggy, it returns empty with 10% chance.
Need to put 0 in front of the array of FIND command as with my code.
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